CN113167805A

CN113167805A - Sample mixing device, sample analysis system and sample mixing method

Info

Publication number: CN113167805A
Application number: CN201980081120.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 胡力坚; 刘元幸
Original assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-28
Filing date: 2019-12-16
Publication date: 2021-07-23
Also published as: WO2020133182A1; WO2020135128A1

Abstract

A sample blending device (1), a sample blending system and a blood sample analysis system comprising the sample blending device (1), a corresponding sample blending method, a control device for the sample analysis system and a computer readable storage medium. Wherein the sample homogenisation device (1) comprises a sample container holder (12) for accommodating the sample container (2) and a drive mechanism (13) for driving the sample container holder (12) in rotation about its axis of rotation, the sample container holder (12) being configured such that, when the sample container (2) is accommodated in the sample container holder (12), the centre axis of the sample container (2) forms an acute angle (α) with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder (12).

Description

Sample mixing device, sample analysis system and sample mixing method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of blood sample analysis, in particular to a sample blending device, a sample analysis system and a sample blending method for blending an extracted blood sample, especially a trace blood sample.

Background

Blood sample testing requires the collection of a certain amount of sample from a patient. The blood collection method is generally divided into venous blood collection and peripheral blood collection. Peripheral blood is often collected for patients who are not suitable for venous blood collection, such as neonates, infants, intensive care patients and the like.

In blood collection, a blood collection tube containing an anticoagulant is generally used to prevent blood coagulation. The blood consists of blood cells and plasma, and because the specific gravities of the blood cells and the plasma are different, the anticoagulated blood can be layered after standing for a period of time, so the blood sample needs to be fully mixed before measurement, otherwise, the measurement result has larger deviation.

When measuring peripheral blood, the analyzer on the market at present usually needs to mix the peripheral blood sample in the blood collection tube with a vortex oscillator or in a finger flicking mode in advance, and then put into the analyzer for measurement. However, the blending method greatly limits the number of one-time batch measurement of peripheral blood on one hand, and increases the burden of manual operation, which is very inconvenient.

In addition, in the prior art, a peripheral blood sample in a blood collection tube is also mixed by adopting a reverse mixing mode, however, the peripheral blood collection mode is characterized in that the blood collection amount is small (usually less than or equal to 150uL), so the fluidity of the blood sample is poor, peripheral blood is often adhered to the cap of the blood collection tube, the bottom of the blood collection tube or the tube wall and does not flow when the blood collection tube is reversed, the blood sample loss is caused by the reverse mixing technology, the measurement is adversely affected, and the problem of peripheral blood mixing is still difficult to effectively solve.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the technical problems of the sample mixing technology in the prior art and the urgent need of the market for full-automatic peripheral blood measurement, a first aspect of the present invention provides a sample mixing device, which comprises a sample container holder for accommodating a sample container and a driving mechanism for driving the sample container holder to rotate around a rotation axis of the sample container holder, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that a central axis of the sample container forms an acute included angle with the rotation axis of the sample container holder when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder.

As an implementation, the sample container holder may be configured such that, when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder, an intersection of a central axis of the sample container and a projection line of a rotational axis of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a sample-accommodating cavity of the sample container.

As an implementation, the sample container holder may be configured such that, when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container is in the same plane as the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container intersects the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, and the intersection point is located above the cavity bottom of the sample container.

As an alternative implementation, the sample container holder may be configured such that, when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder lie in different planes, and an intersection point of a projection line of the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a cavity bottom of the sample container.

In one embodiment, the sample container holder can have a sample container receiving space which can accommodate the sample container in a fixed manner, the sample container receiving space being designed as a receiving space in the form of a bore or as a cavity surrounded by a plurality of columns, in which the sample container can be accommodated in a fixed manner. Wherein the sample container receiving chamber may be configured such that when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container receiving chamber, the central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, preferably the intersection of the central axis of the sample container and the projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample-receiving cavity of the sample container.

As an implementation manner, an abutting portion may be provided in the sample container accommodating chamber, and the abutting portion is configured such that when the sample container is accommodated in the sample container accommodating chamber, the sample container abuts against the abutting portion, so that the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container seat form an acute included angle, and preferably, an intersection point of projection lines of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container seat in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a sample accommodating chamber of the sample container. Furthermore, the abutment portion may be integrally formed at the bottom of the sample container receiving cavity of the sample container holder, or the abutment portion may be releasably secured at the bottom of the sample container receiving cavity of the sample container holder.

As an alternative realization, the sample container reception chamber is configured such that its central axis forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, such that when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container reception chamber, the central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, preferably the intersection of the central axis of the sample container with the projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample-receiving cavity of the sample container.

In one implementation, the acute angle formed by the central axis of the sample container and the rotational axis of the sample container holder may be less than or equal to about 45 °, and preferably in the range of about 2 ° to about 15 °.

As an implementation, the drive mechanism may have a drive shaft, on which the sample container holders are directly fixed or indirectly rotationally connected via a transmission mechanism, such as a belt, a synchronous belt, a gear train component.

As an alternative implementation, the drive mechanism may rotate the sample holder by driving a wheel with a resilient peripheral gasket, providing friction by the peripheral gasket contacting the periphery of the sample holder.

As one implementation manner, the sample container holder may include a rotation shaft fixing hole connected to a driving rotation shaft of the driving mechanism, and the driving rotation shaft of the driving mechanism is inserted into the rotation shaft fixing hole and is fixedly connected to the rotation shaft fixing hole, so that the sample container holder rotates along with the rotation of the driving rotation shaft of the driving mechanism.

As an implementation manner, the rotating shaft fixing hole may be coaxially disposed with the sample container accommodating cavity; or the rotating shaft fixing hole can be eccentrically arranged with the sample container accommodating cavity, and the eccentricity is 0mm to about 5mm, preferably about 1mm to about 2 mm.

As an implementation, the drive mechanism may be configured as a motor, for example a stepper motor, or a direct current motor, or a servo motor.

As an implementation manner, the sample mixing apparatus may further include a sensor for detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder. The sensor may be, for example, a correlation type photosensor, a reflection type photosensor, a hall sensor, a capacitance sensor, and preferably a correlation type photosensor.

As an implementation manner, the sample blending device may be provided with an induction portion and a notch in an induction area of the sensor, and the induction portion and the notch alternately enter the induction area of the sensor when the sample blending base is driven by the driving mechanism to rotate, so as to generate an output pulse signal of the sensor for detecting a rotation state of the sample container base.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a sample mixing system, including a sample container for accommodating a sample, and a sample mixing device for mixing the sample in the sample container, wherein the sample mixing device is configured according to one of the sample mixing devices described above.

In one embodiment, the sample container is configured as a micro blood collection tube for receiving peripheral blood, and/or the sample container is configured as a closed-lid container or an open-lid container.

A third aspect of the invention provides a sample analysis system comprising:

a sample tempering device, in particular the sample tempering device described above, configured for tempering a sample in a sample container and comprising a sample container holder for accommodating the sample container and a drive mechanism for driving the sample container holder in rotation about its axis of rotation, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that a centre axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder when the sample container is accommodated in the sample container holder;

a control device configured to be in communication with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism to drive the sample container holder to rotate about its axis of rotation.

As an implementation, the control device may be configured to control the drive mechanism in the following manner:

causing the drive mechanism to drive the sample holder to rotate about its axis of rotation in the same direction, preferably causing the drive mechanism to drive the sample holder to periodically rotate about its axis of rotation in the same direction; or

The driving mechanism is enabled to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately, preferably, after the driving mechanism is enabled to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the first direction for a preset time period, the driving mechanism is stopped, and after the sample flows back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container, the driving mechanism is started to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the second direction opposite to the first direction.

As an implementation manner, the sample mixing apparatus may further include a sensor for detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder, the sensor may be in communication connection with the control device, so as to transmit the detected rotation state of the sample container holder to the control device, and the control device may adjust a driving parameter of the driving mechanism according to the rotation state of the sample container holder or may determine whether the sample container holder or the driving mechanism is faulty according to the rotation state of the sample container holder.

As an implementation, the sample analysis system may further include:

a first transport device configured to be communicatively connected with the control device and for placing the sample container into the sample container holder under control of the control device;

a second transport device configured to be communicatively connected to the control device and to remove the sample container from the sample container holder under the control of the control device.

The first and second transport devices may be configured as the same device or as different devices.

The fourth aspect of the present invention provides a sample blending method, including:

fixedly placing a sample container into a rotatable sample container seat, so that an acute included angle is formed between a central axis of the sample container and a rotation axis of the sample container seat, and preferably, an intersection point of projection lines of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container seat in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of a cavity of the sample container for accommodating a sample;

and the driving mechanism drives the sample container seat to rotate around the rotating axis of the sample container seat so as to carry out sample blending operation.

As an implementation, the sample container may be fixedly placed in the rotatable sample container holder such that the acute angle formed by the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder is less than or equal to about 45 °, preferably in the range of about 2 ° to about 15 °.

As one implementation manner, the step of driving the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis thereof by the driving mechanism to perform the sample blending operation may include:

driving the sample holder to rotate in the same direction about its axis of rotation by a drive mechanism, preferably driving the sample holder to rotate periodically in the same direction about its axis of rotation by a drive mechanism; or

The sample container holder is driven by the driving mechanism to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately, preferably, after the sample container holder is driven by the driving mechanism to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the first direction for a preset time period, the driving mechanism is stopped, and after the sample flows back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container, the driving mechanism is started to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the second direction opposite to the first direction.

As an implementation, the method may further include:

detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder by a sensor;

adjusting a driving parameter, such as a rotational speed, of the driving mechanism according to the rotational state; and/or

And judging whether the sample container seat or the driving mechanism has a fault according to the rotation state.

In addition, the method further comprises the step of stopping the driving mechanism after the sample blending operation is finished, and taking out the sample container or directly sucking the sample in the sample container after the sample flows back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a control device for a sample analysis system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the sample analysis system to perform the various steps of the aforementioned sample blending method.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a sample analysis system, cause the sample analysis system to perform the steps of the aforementioned sample blending method.

According to the invention, the central axis of the sample container accommodated in the sample container seat is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the sample container seat, so that the requirement of sample blending can be better met when the sample container seat drives the sample container therein to rotate, the liquid level height of the sample to be blended during rotation can be controlled by adjusting the inclination angle of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container seat, and the sample to be blended is prevented from overflowing the sample container. That is to say, through rationally adjusting rotation rate and inclination, can finally reach a dynamic balance, the sample that treats the mixing can enough be made the circumference rotation around the axis of rotation with great angular velocity promptly, be unlikely to make the liquid level climb high too much again, and then can prevent that the sample from spilling over the sample container, and through the liquid level height when restraining the sample rotation, has reduced the hanging liquid volume of remaining of sample on the appearance intracavity wall of sample container to can play the effect that reduces the sample loss.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sample mixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a sample container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sample container holder of a sample homogenizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the output signal of the sensor of the sample homogenizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a sample receptacle of a sample homogenizing device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sample container holder of FIG. 5 at rest with a sample container received within its sample container receiving cavity, with a sample contained therein;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sample container holder of FIG. 5 with a sample container received in its sample container-receiving cavity, as it rotates, with a sample contained therein;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a sample vessel holder of the sample homogenizing device of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a force analysis of a sample in a sample container as the sample container holder rotates according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 to 12 are schematic views of the intersection of the central axis of the sample container and the rotational axis of the sample container holder according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a sample receptacle of a sample homogenizing device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the sample container holder of FIG. 13 at rest with a sample container received within its sample container-receiving cavity, with a sample contained therein;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a sample receptacle of a sample homogenizing device according to the present disclosure;

fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the sample container holder of fig. 15 at rest with a sample container received in its sample container-receiving cavity, with a sample contained therein;

FIG. 17 is a schematic structural view of one embodiment of a sample homogenizing device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a sample analysis system of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram of a first embodiment of a sample blending method of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic flow diagram of a first blending mode of the sample blending method of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic flow diagram of a second blending approach of the sample blending method of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic flow diagram of a third blending method of the sample blending method of the present invention;

fig. 23 is a schematic flow chart of a sample kneading method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

So that the manner in which the features and aspects of the embodiments of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sample kneading apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the sample mixing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a sample container holder 12 for fixedly accommodating a sample container (not shown), and a driving mechanism 13 for driving the sample container holder 12 to rotate around a rotation axis thereof, wherein the sample container holder 12 is configured such that a central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the rotation axis of the sample container holder 12 when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder 12, which will be further described in detail below.

In the embodiment of the present application, the sample container in the sample container holder 12 is driven by the driving mechanism 13 to perform not only revolution motion around the rotation axis, but also rotation motion, so as to achieve a better blending effect.

In particular with the sample container 2 shown in fig. 2, the sample container 2 has a tubular body 21 and a cavity 211 and is adapted to contain a micro-sample of blood, the bottom 212 of the cavity 211 being higher than the bottom end of the tubular body 21. The self rotation of the sample container 2 is particularly important for the sample mixing of the inner cavity bottom 212 and the specific distance from the lowest position of the tube body 21, and the self rotation of the sample container can enable the sample of the inner cavity bottom 212 and the specific distance from the lowest position of the tube body 21 to obtain a better mixing effect, so that the mixing device 1 has better adaptability to sample containers in different shapes.

It should be noted here that when a sample container is fixedly accommodated in a sample container holder, the axis of rotation of the sample container holder is the axis of rotation of the sample container or a sample accommodated therein.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 13 may be configured as a motor to drive the sample vessel holder 12 in a clockwise and/or counterclockwise direction. The motor may be, for example, a stepping motor, a dc motor, a servo motor, or the like, which can provide a rotational power, and it is a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the driving mechanism 13 is configured as a stepping motor.

In some embodiments, the sample holder 12 is rotationally connected to a drive mechanism 13, in particular a motor, so that the sample holder 12 together with the sample containers fixedly accommodated in the sample holder 12 is rotated about a rotational axis. The sample holder 12 may be directly fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 13 or may be indirectly rotationally connected to the drive shaft of the motor 13 via a transmission mechanism, for example, a belt, a timing belt, a gear train member, or the like. In an alternative embodiment, the drive mechanism 13 may rotate the sample holder 12 by driving a wheel with a resilient peripheral gasket, providing friction by the peripheral gasket contacting the periphery of the sample holder 12. Wherein, directly fixing the sample container holder 12 on the rotating shaft of the motor 13 is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, because the connection mode has the advantages of more compact structure, least used parts, miniaturization and low cost.

Further, the drive mechanism 13 may be communicatively coupled to a control device (not shown) configured to control the activation, deactivation, and rotational speed of the drive mechanism 13.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the sample mixing apparatus 1 further includes a sensor 14 configured to detect a rotation state of the sample holder 12, for example, whether the sample holder 12 rotates, a rotation speed thereof, and the like. In some embodiments, the sensor 14 may be a correlation photosensor, a reflection photosensor, a hall sensor, a capacitive sensor, or the like. The sensor 14 is a correlation photoelectric sensor, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Further, the sensor 14 may be in communication with the control device to transmit the rotation state of the sample container holder 12 to the control device, and the control device may adjust the rotation speed of the driving mechanism 13 according to the rotation state of the sample container holder 12, or may further determine whether the sample mixing device 1 is faulty, for example, whether the sample container holder is stuck, according to the rotation state of the sample container holder 12. For example, when the sensor 14 detects that the rotation speed of the sample holder is zero during the kneading operation, the control device may determine that the sample kneading apparatus 1 has a failure, for example, that the control device has failed to open the drive mechanism 13, or that the sample holder 12 is disconnected from the drive mechanism 13, or that the sample holder is stuck. Alternatively, when the rotation speed of the sample holder detected by the sensor 14 is less than the predetermined rotation speed, the control device may determine that the sample mixing device 1 has a failure, for example, the connection between the sample holder 12 and the driving mechanism 13 is released to cause slipping, so that the rotation speed is reduced.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the sample mixing apparatus 1 further includes a holder 11 for fixing the driving mechanism 13 and the sensor 14.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the sample container holder 12 of the sample mixing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, the sample container holder 12 has a sample container receiving chamber 121 that can fixedly receive a sample container. In this embodiment, the sample container receiving chamber 121 is disposed above the sample container holder. Further, a sensing portion 124 and a notch 125 are provided below the sample container holder 12. When the driving mechanism 13 drives the sample container holder 12 to rotate, the sensing portion 124 and the notch 125 pass through the sensing area of the sensor 14 in a circulating and alternating manner, that is, the sensing area of the sensor 14 is alternately switched between the shielding state and the non-shielding state, the sensor 14 outputs a pulse signal as shown in (a) or (b) of fig. 4, and whether the sample container holder 12 rotates, the rotation speed, and the like can be determined by the pulse signal output by the sensor 14. The number of revolutions of the sample holder 12 can be determined, for example, by counting the number of pulse signals output by the sensor 14, so that a control device connected to the sensor 14 can determine whether the number of revolutions is as desired. By determining the signal period T of the pulse signal shown in fig. 4, the rotational speed of the sample holder 12 can be calculated, so that a control device connected to the sensor 14 can determine whether the rotational speed corresponds to expectations.

Fig. 5 to 7 are then used to describe a first embodiment of a sample container holder 12 according to the invention, fig. 5 being a sectional view of a first embodiment of a sample container holder 12 according to the invention of a sample mixing device 1, fig. 6 being a sectional view of the sample container holder 12 according to fig. 5 with a sample container 2 accommodated in its sample container accommodating chamber 121 when it is at rest, wherein a sample 3 is accommodated in the sample container 2, and fig. 7 being a sectional view of the sample container holder 12 according to fig. 5 with a sample container 2 accommodated in its sample container accommodating chamber 121 when it is rotated, wherein a sample 3 is accommodated in the sample container 2.

As shown in fig. 5, the sample container holder 12 has a sample container accommodating chamber 121, and the diameter of the inlet of the sample container accommodating chamber 121 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sample container. At the bottom of this sample container receiving chamber 121, an abutment 122 is provided, which abutment 122 is configured such that, when the sample container 2 is received in the sample container receiving chamber 121, the sample container 2 abuts against the abutment 122 such that the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 forms an acute angle with the axis a1 of rotation of the sample container holder 12 or with the axis a1 of rotation of the sample container 2, in particular such that the intersection of the central axis A3 of the sample container with the projection line of the axis a1 of rotation of the sample container holder 12 in the vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample container 3-receiving cavity of the sample container 2. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 122 is integrally formed at the bottom of the sample container receiving cavity 121 of the sample container holder 12. Of course, in other embodiments, not shown, the abutment 122 may be releasably secured to the bottom of the sample vessel receiving cavity 121 of the sample vessel holder 12, such a configuration allowing for easy replacement of the abutment to accommodate different sample vessels.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 7, the sample holder 12 is configured as a receiving chamber in the form of a bore, but the invention is not limited thereto. As shown in fig. 8, the sample vessel holder 12 may also be configured as a cavity 121 surrounded circumferentially by a plurality (three or more) of cylinders, in which cavity 121 the sample vessel 12 can be fixedly received. In the exemplary embodiment of fig. 8, an abutment 122 is likewise provided at the bottom of the cavity 121, which abutment 122 is designed such that, when the sample container 2 is accommodated in the cavity 121, the sample container 2 abuts against the abutment 122, such that the center axis of the sample container 2 forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder 12 or the axis of rotation of the sample container 2. For other features in the embodiment of fig. 8, reference is made to the description of the embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 7, which is not repeated herein.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 7, the sample container holder 12 further includes a rotation shaft fixing hole 123 at the lower side, and the driving rotation shaft of the driving mechanism 13 is inserted into the rotation shaft fixing hole 13 and is fixedly connected with the rotation shaft fixing hole 13, so that the sample container holder 12 rotates along with the rotation of the driving rotation shaft of the driving mechanism 13. Thus, the axis a1 of the shaft fixing hole 123 is the rotation axis of the sample holder 12. As shown in fig. 5, the axis a1 of the rotation shaft fixing hole 123 and the central axis a2 of the sample container accommodating chamber 121 may not coincide with each other, that is, the sample container accommodating chamber 121 may be disposed eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis of the sample container holder 12, and the eccentric amount d may be, for example, 0mm to 5mm, and preferably 1mm to 2 mm. In the case of an eccentric arrangement, the sensor 14 can also be used for initial position positioning of the sample container holder 12.

The abutment 122 functions to keep the sample container 2 tilted with respect to the sample container receiving chamber 121 when it is placed in the sample container receiving chamber 121, i.e. such that the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 forms an acute angle α with the axis of rotation a1 of the sample container holder 12 when the sample container 2 is placed in the sample container receiving chamber 121, as shown in fig. 6. In this embodiment, when the sample container 2 is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder 12, the centre axis A3 of the sample container 2 lies in the same plane as the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12, i.e. the centre axis A3 of the sample container 2 intersects the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12. In some preferred embodiments, the acute included angle α may be less than or equal to about 45 °, and preferably may be about 2 ° to about 15 °.

As fig. 6 also shows, the point of intersection P of the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 and the axis of rotation a1 of the sample container holder 12 is located above the bottom of the sample volume of the sample container 2. In particular, the intersection point P of the axis of rotation a1 of the sample holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 may be located above the sample volume inlet of the sample container 2, as shown in fig. 10; as shown in fig. 11, the intersection point P of the axis of rotation a1 of the sample vessel holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample vessel 2 may also be located between the sample chamber inlet of the sample vessel 2 and the sample chamber bottom.

When the drive mechanism 13 drives the sample holder 12 to rotate about its axis of rotation a1, the sample (e.g., blood sample) 3 in the sample container 2 changes from the state shown in fig. 6 to the state shown in fig. 7. Under the action of the centrifugal force, the sample 3 is thrown off the axis of rotation a1 of the sample holder 12 and rises along the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2.

In this case, as shown in fig. 8, the sample on the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2 is subjected to a force analysis as follows: according to the principle of force and reaction, the sample cell S located on the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2 is subjected to a force F perpendicular to the inner wall of the cavity, which can be decomposed into component forces F1 and F2, where F1 ═ F × cos α, F2 ═ F × sin α, and further F2 ═ F1 × tan α. The force F1 provides a centripetal force to the rotation of the sample cell S about the axis of rotation a1, while the force F2 prevents the sample cell S from rising along the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2.

According to the centripetal force formula F1 ═ Δ m ω²r, the centripetal force F1 is proportional to the square of the angular velocity ω of the sample unit S about the rotation axis A1, where F1 is the centripetal force required to rotate the sample unit S about the rotation axis A1, Δ m is the mass of the sample unit S, and ω is the angular velocity of the sample unit S about the rotation axis A1Degree, r is the radius of rotation of the sample unit S about the axis of rotation a 1. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, due to the fluidity of the liquid, the greater the angular velocity ω at which the liquid is rotated, the more the tendency of the liquid to leave the center of rotation, i.e., the tendency of the sample cell S to rise along the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2 increases as the angular velocity ω at which it rotates about the axis of rotation a1 increases. However, it is further deduced that F2 ═ Δ m ω²As the angular velocity ω increases, the force F2 that prevents the sample cell S from rising along the cavity inner wall of the sample container 2 also increases, counteracting the tendency of the sample cell S to rise along the cavity inner wall of the sample container 2. Therefore, the requirement of sample mixing can be met by adjusting the angular velocity omega, namely the driving rotating speed of the driving mechanism, and the liquid level height of the sample during rotation can be controlled by adjusting the acute included angle alpha. That is, by reasonably adjusting the two parameters of the angular velocity ω and the included angle α, a dynamic balance can be finally achieved, that is, the sample unit S can rotate around the rotation axis a1 at a larger angular velocity ω, and the liquid level climbing height is not too high, so that the sample can be prevented from overflowing the sample container 2. And through the liquid level height when restraining the sample and rotate, reduced the liquid hanging residual amount of sample 3 on the appearance intracavity wall of sample container 2 to can play the effect that reduces the sample loss.

As described above, when the sample 3 in the sample container 2 is mixed, by inclining the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 relative to the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12 when the sample container 2 is placed in the sample container holder 12, that is, by arranging the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 in a staggered manner, that is, by forming an acute angle, the intersection point of the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 is preferably located above the bottom of the sample cavity of the sample container 2, which not only can prevent the sample from splashing, but also can reduce the wall hanging loss when the sample 2 is mixed, which is particularly important for samples with small sampling amount, such as peripheral blood samples, because the excessive wall hanging loss affects the reliability of the sample after being mixed.

Of course, the mixing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be used for mixing a sample container containing a large amount of sample. Therefore, the sample container 2 that can be placed in the sample container accommodating chamber 121 of the sample container holder 12 is not limited to a micro blood collection tube that contains a small amount of sample, such as a small amount of peripheral blood, but may be a vacuum blood collection tube that contains a large amount of venous blood, and may be other types of sample containers, such as sample containers for containing urine, ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, and the like. However, the mixing device of the embodiment of the invention has obvious advantages for a micro blood collection tube filled with a small amount of samples, such as peripheral blood.

The sample container 2 that can be placed in the sample container accommodating chamber 121 of the sample container holder 12 may be a closed-lid container or an open-lid container. When the blending device 1 provided by the embodiment of the invention is used for blending the sample 3 in the sample container 2, the sample in the sample container 2 can be effectively prevented from flowing towards the opening of the containing cavity of the sample container 2, so that even if the container is opened, the risk of splashing during the blending of the sample is avoided.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, a better blending effect, especially, prevention of the sample from overflowing the sample container 2 and suppression of the liquid level when the sample is rotated, is obtained by inclining the central axis of the sample container 2 with respect to the rotation axis of the sample container holder 12 when the sample container 2 is accommodated in the sample container holder 12, and therefore, it is preferable that the intersection point P of the rotation axis of the sample container 2 (i.e., the rotation axis of the sample container holder 12) and the central axis of the sample container 2 is located above the bottom of the sample container cavity of the sample container 2, as shown in fig. 10 and 11. When the intersection point P of the rotation axis of the sample container 2 and the central axis of the sample container 2 is located below the bottom of the sample cavity of the sample container 2, as shown in fig. 11, the direction of the component force F2 will be upward along the inner wall of the cavity of the sample container 2, which may cause the sample to overflow the sample container 2 when the sample is mixed uniformly, and if this embodiment is adopted, the sample overflow risk may be avoided by reducing the rotation speed.

In some embodiments, which are not shown, the centre axis of the sample container 2 can also lie in different planes with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder 12 when the sample container 2 is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder 12, in which case the centre axis of the sample container 2 forms an acute angle α with the projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder 12 in a vertical plane, preferably the intersection point of the centre axis of the sample container 2 with the projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder 12 in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample volume of the sample container 2. That is, when the sample container 2 is fixedly accommodated in the sample container holder 12, the rotation axis a1 of the sample container holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 may be two non-parallel and non-intersecting straight lines, and the intersection point of the projection line of the axis a1 and the axis A3 in the vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample container cavity of the sample container 2, so that when the driving mechanism 13 drives the sample container holder 12 to rotate around the rotation axis a1, the sample 3 in the sample container 2 is subjected to a component force of the cavity sidewall of the sample container 2 towards one cavity bottom of the sample container 2, and then the blending effect and the sample liquid level in the sample container 2 during blending are balanced by reasonably setting the angular velocity ω of the rotation of the sample container holder 12 around the rotation axis a1 and the inclination angle of the sample container 2.

A second embodiment of a sample container holder 12 according to the invention is described next with reference to fig. 13 and 14, wherein fig. 13 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of a sample container holder 12 of a sample homogenizing device 1 according to the invention, and fig. 14 is a sectional view of the sample container holder 12 according to fig. 13 at rest with a sample container 2 accommodated in its sample container accommodating chamber, wherein a sample is accommodated in this sample container 2. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 7 in that the axis of the rotating shaft fixing hole 123 of the sample container holder 12 coincides with the central axis of the sample container accommodating chamber 121, i.e., the sample container accommodating chamber 121 is concentrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the sample container holder 12. In the second embodiment, the sample container 2 is also held in an inclined state by providing the abutting portion 122 in the sample-container accommodating chamber 121, and as shown in fig. 14, the intersection point P of the rotation axis a1 of the sample-container holder 12 and the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 is also located above the bottom of the sample chamber of the sample container 2, so that the sample can be prevented from overflowing the sample container 2 when the sample-container holder 12 is rotated, and the liquid level when the sample is rotated can be suppressed.

Furthermore, a third embodiment of a sample container holder 12 according to the invention is described with reference to fig. 15 and 16, wherein fig. 15 is a sectional view of the third embodiment of a sample container holder 12 of a sample homogenisation device 1 according to the invention, and fig. 16 is a sectional view of the sample container holder 12 according to fig. 15 at rest together with a sample container 2 accommodated in a sample container accommodating chamber thereof, wherein a sample is accommodated in this sample container 2. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in fig. 5 to 7 or the second embodiment shown in fig. 13 and 14 in that, in the third embodiment, the sample container holder 12 is provided with the sample container housing chamber 121 and the motor shaft fixing hole 123, but the sample container housing chamber 121 is not provided with the abutting portion 122 for abutting against the sample container 2. Instead of the arrangement of the abutment 122, the sample container reception chamber 121 is configured such that its central axis a2 forms an acute angle α with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder 12 (in this embodiment the axis a1 of the rotation shaft fastening hole 123), such that when the sample container 2 is received in the sample container reception chamber 121 the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 forms an acute angle α with the axis of rotation a1 of the sample container holder, preferably such that the intersection point P of the central axis A3 of the sample container 2 with the projection line of the axis of rotation a1 of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above the sample volume bottom of the sample container 2. Wherein the acute included angle α may be equal to or less than about 45 °, preferably from about 2 ° to about 15 °. This also prevents the sample from overflowing the sample container 2 when the sample holder 12 is rotated, and suppresses the liquid level when the sample is rotated.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 17, the entrance of the sample container fixing hole 121 of the sample container holder 12 of the mixing device 1 is provided in a tooth shape, such as a circular tooth shape, and the inner diameter of the tooth shape is larger than the diameter of the sample container 2, so that when the barcode label of the sample container 2 is not adhered firmly and the edge of the barcode label paper is opened, the probability that the sample container cannot be placed in the sample container fixing hole 121 of the sample container holder 12 is reduced when the sample container is transported to the sample container holder 12.

In another aspect, as shown in fig. 18, the present invention also features a sample analysis system 100, particularly an automated blood analysis system having a peripheral blood measurement mode, such as a single automated blood analyzer or an automated blood analysis pipeline system having one or more automated blood analyzers. The sample analysis system includes:

a sample blending device 110 configured to blend a sample in a sample container and comprising a sample container holder for accommodating the sample container and a drive mechanism for driving the sample container holder to rotate about its axis of rotation, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that a central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder when the sample container is accommodated in the sample container holder;

a control device (not shown) configured to be in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism to drive the sample container holder in rotation about its axis of rotation.

The structure of the sample blending device 110 may be completely the same as that of the blending device shown in fig. 1 to 17 in the previous embodiment, and will not be described herein again.

The control device may be any device capable of issuing control instructions, such as a microcontroller or the like. The communication connection includes a wireless communication connection, such as a WIFI connection, and a wired communication connection, such as a direct connection through a USB interface or a network port.

Further, the control device may be configured to control the drive mechanism in the following manner:

Furthermore, the sample blending device further comprises a sensor for detecting the rotation state of the sample container holder, the sensor is in communication connection with the control device so as to transmit the detected rotation state of the sample container holder to the control device, and the control device can adjust the driving parameters of the driving mechanism according to the rotation state of the sample container holder or can judge whether the sample container holder or the driving mechanism fails according to the rotation state of the sample container holder. For example, a sensor may be used to determine whether the sample container base is rotating, so that the control device can determine based thereon whether the drive mechanism or the sample container base is damaged. Or the sensor can also be used for determining whether the rotating speed of the sample container base is in accordance with the expectation, and if the rotating speed is not in the preset rotating speed, the blending effect can be influenced.

Further, the sample analysis system further comprises:

In the embodiment of the invention, the first conveying device is used for placing the sample container to be mixed into the sample container seat so as to mix the sample in the sample container, and the second conveying device is used for taking the mixed sample container out of the sample container seat so as to accommodate and load the next sample to be mixed into the sample container seat.

Further, the first and second conveyance devices may be constituted by the same device or different devices.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 18, the first transport device and the second transport device are configured as the same sample container handling device 120.

In addition, the sample analysis system 100 may further include a sample sucking device 130 configured to be communicatively connected to the control device and suck the sample mixed by the sample mixing device 110 under the control of the control device.

Further, the sample analysis system 100 may further comprise a sample rack transport device 140 configured for transporting a sample rack 150 loadable with at least one sample container 2.

The operation of the sample analysis system 100 according to the present invention is as follows: the sample rack transport device 140 transports the sample rack 150 loaded with the sample container 2 to the blending position of the sample analysis system 100, then the sample container transport device 120 transports the sample container 2 from the sample rack 150 to the sample blending device 110, the sample blending device 110 blends the sample 3 in the sample container 2, then the sample container transport device 120 transports the sample container 2 from the sample blending device 110 back to the sample rack 150, and finally the sample rack transport device 140 further transports the sample rack 150 loaded with the blended sample container 2 to the sample absorbing position of the sample analysis system 100 for sample absorption by the sample absorbing device 130, so as to perform sample detection.

In yet another aspect, the present invention also describes a sample mixing method, in particular a sample mixing method implemented by the sample mixing device 1.

Fig. 19 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first embodiment of a sample tempering method 200 according to the present invention, said sample tempering method 200 comprising:

201. the sample container is fixedly placed (by a robot or manually) into the rotatable sample container holder such that the central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, preferably such that the intersection of the central axis of the sample container and the projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of the sample volume of the sample container, more preferably such that the acute angle formed by the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder is less than or equal to about 45 °, preferably in the range of about 2 ° to about 15 °.

202. And the driving mechanism drives the sample container seat to rotate around the rotating axis of the sample container seat so as to uniformly mix the samples.

In addition, after the sample blending operation is completed, the driving mechanism is stopped, particularly, after the sample flows back to the bottom of the containing cavity of the sample container, the sample container is taken out, and then the sample in the sample container is sucked by the sample sucking device, or the sample in the sample container is directly sucked by the sample sucking device.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the sample container seat is driven by the driving mechanism to drive the sample container filled with the sample to rotate around the rotation axis, so that the sample in the sample container is uniformly mixed, wherein the central axis of the sample container is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the sample container seat. When the driving mechanism drives the sample container seat to rotate, the sample in the sample container rotates along the inner wall of the containing cavity of the sample container and climbs towards the opening of the sample containing cavity of the sample container, and when the sample container seat stops rotating, the sample which climbs towards the opening of the sample containing cavity of the sample container along the inner wall of the containing cavity of the sample container for a certain distance flows back to the bottom of the containing cavity of the sample container. Thus, embodiments of the present invention achieve uniform mixing of the sample 3 in the sample container by rotating the sample and climbing and reflowing the sample.

Fig. 20 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first blending mode of step 202 of the sample blending method 200, wherein step 202 comprises:

2021a, driving the sample container holder to rotate around its axis of rotation in a first direction by a drive mechanism;

2021b, the sample vessel holder is driven by the drive mechanism to rotate about its axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

2021c, stopping the driving mechanism, stopping the rotation of the sample container holder and waiting for the sample in the sample container to flow back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container.

Fig. 21 shows a schematic flow diagram of a second blending mode of step 202 of the sample blending method 200, wherein step 202 comprises:

2022a, the sample container holder is driven by the drive mechanism to rotate about its axis of rotation;

2022b, stopping the driving mechanism to stop the rotation of the sample container seat and wait for the sample in the sample container to flow back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container;

2022c, performing 2022a and 2022b repeatedly a plurality of times.

Fig. 22 shows a schematic flow diagram of a third blending mode of step 202 of the sample blending method 200, wherein step 202 comprises:

2023a, driving the sample container holder to rotate around its axis of rotation in a first direction by the drive mechanism;

2023b, stopping the driving mechanism to stop the rotation of the sample container seat and wait for the sample in the sample container to flow back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container;

2023c, driving the sample container holder to rotate about its axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the drive mechanism;

2023d, stopping the driving mechanism, stopping the rotation of the sample container holder and waiting for the sample in the sample container to flow back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container.

2023a to 2023d may also be performed repeatedly a plurality of times in this embodiment.

By making the sample container in the sample container holder 12 rotate in the forward direction and the direction, a better mixing effect can be obtained for a micro sample, especially a micro blood sample.

According to the invention, a better sample blending effect can be obtained especially by rotating and repeatedly climbing and reflowing the sample in the sample container.

Fig. 23 shows a schematic flow diagram of a second embodiment of a sample tempering method 300 according to the present invention, steps 301 and 302 of the sample tempering method 300 being identical to

steps

201 and 202 of the sample tempering method 200 shown in fig. 19, the sample tempering method 300 further comprising:

303. detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder by a sensor;

304. adjusting a driving parameter, such as a rotational speed, of the driving mechanism according to the rotational state; and/or judging whether the sample container seat or the driving mechanism has a fault according to the rotation state.

The embodiment of the invention also discloses a control device for a sample analysis system, wherein the sample analysis system is provided with the sample blending device, and the control device is in communication connection with the driving mechanism and the sensor (if the driving mechanism and the sensor are provided) of the sample blending device.

Fig. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a control device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the control device 400 includes at least one processor 401 and a memory 402, and the memory 402 stores instructions executable by the at least one processor 401, where the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor 401, cause the sample analysis system to perform the steps of the sample blending method.

The control device 400 may further comprise at least one network interface 404 and a user interface 403. The various components in the control device 400 are coupled together by a bus system 405. It is understood that the bus system 405 is used to enable connection communication between these components. The bus system 405 includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus in addition to a data bus. For clarity of illustration, however, the various buses are labeled as bus system 405 in fig. 24.

The user interface 403 may include, among other things, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a click wheel, a key, a button, a touch pad, or a touch screen.

It will be appreciated that the memory 402 can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, and can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Among them, the nonvolatile Memory may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a magnetic random access Memory (FRAM), a Flash Memory (Flash Memory), a magnetic surface Memory, an optical disk, or a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM); the magnetic surface storage may be disk storage or tape storage. Volatile Memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache Memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Synchronous Static Random Access Memory (SSRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDRSDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (ESDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (Enhanced DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SLDRAM), Direct Memory (DRmb Access), and Random Access Memory (DRAM). The memory 402 described in connection with the embodiments of the invention is intended to comprise these and any other suitable types of memory.

Memory 402 in embodiments of the present invention includes, but is not limited to: a ternary content addressable memory, static random access memory, or the like, is capable of storing a wide variety of data such as received sensor signals to support the operation of the control device 400.

The Processor 401 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU, or other general-purpose Processor), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other Programmable logic device, a discrete Gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or the like.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium, such as a memory 402, including a computer program, which is executable by a processor 401 of a controller 400, so that the sample analysis system performs the steps of the sample blending method. The computer readable storage medium can be Memory such as FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash Memory, magnetic surface Memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; or may be various devices including one or any combination of the above memories.

The features mentioned above can be combined with one another as desired, insofar as they are within the scope of the invention. The advantages and features described for the sample homogenisation device apply in a corresponding manner to the corresponding system and to the corresponding method.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention, and all the changes or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A sample blending device comprising a sample container holder for holding a sample container and a drive mechanism for driving the sample container holder to rotate about its axis of rotation, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that when the sample container is fixedly held in the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container forms an acute included angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder.
The sample blending device according to claim 1, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that, when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container holder, an intersection of a central axis of the sample container and a projection line of a rotational axis of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a sample-receiving cavity of the sample container.
The sample blending device according to claim 2, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container is in the same plane as the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container intersects the axis of rotation of the sample container holder at a point above the cavity bottom of the sample container.
The sample blending device according to claim 2, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that when the sample container is fixedly received in the sample container holder, the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder lie in different planes, and an intersection of a projection line of the central axis of the sample container and the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a cavity bottom of the sample container.
The sample blending device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sample container holder has a sample container accommodating cavity capable of fixedly accommodating the sample container, the sample container accommodating cavity being configured such that when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container accommodating cavity, a central axis of the sample container forms an acute included angle with a rotation axis of the sample container holder, preferably an intersection point of a projection line of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a sample accommodating cavity of the sample container.
The sample blending device according to claim 5, wherein an abutting portion is provided in the sample container accommodating cavity, and the abutting portion is configured such that when the sample container is accommodated in the sample container accommodating cavity, the sample container abuts against the abutting portion, so that an acute included angle is formed between a central axis of the sample container and a rotation axis of the sample container holder, and preferably, an intersection point of a projection line of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a cavity of the sample container accommodating the sample.
The sample mixing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the abutting portion is integrally formed at a bottom of the sample container receiving cavity of the sample container holder, or the abutting portion is releasably fixed at the bottom of the sample container receiving cavity of the sample container holder.
The sample blending device according to claim 5, wherein the sample container accommodating chamber is configured such that its central axis forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, such that when the sample container is fixedly accommodated in the sample container accommodating chamber, the central axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder, preferably an intersection of the central axis of the sample container and a projection line of the axis of rotation of the sample container holder in a vertical plane is located above a bottom of a sample accommodating cavity of the sample container.
The sample homogenizing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the sample container accommodating chamber is configured as an aperture-shaped accommodating chamber or as a cavity surrounded circumferentially by a plurality of columns, in which a sample container can be fixedly accommodated.
The sample mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an acute angle formed by the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container holder is less than or equal to about 45 °, preferably in a range of about 2 ° to about 15 °.
The sample blending device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the driving mechanism has a driving rotating shaft, and the sample container holder is directly fixed on the driving rotating shaft or is indirectly connected with the driving rotating shaft in a rotating manner through a transmission mechanism; or

The drive mechanism rotates the sample holder by driving a wheel with a resilient peripheral gasket, providing a frictional force by the peripheral gasket contacting the periphery of the sample holder.
The sample blending device according to claim 11, wherein the sample container holder comprises a rotating shaft fixing hole connected with a driving rotating shaft of the driving mechanism, and the driving rotating shaft of the driving mechanism is inserted into the rotating shaft fixing hole and fixedly connected with the rotating shaft fixing hole, so that the sample container holder rotates along with the rotation of the driving rotating shaft of the driving mechanism.
The sample blending device according to claim 12, wherein the rotating shaft fixing hole is coaxially arranged with the sample container accommodating cavity; or the rotating shaft fixing hole and the sample container accommodating cavity are eccentrically arranged, and the eccentricity is 0mm to about 5mm, preferably about 1mm to about 2 mm.
The sample homogenizing device of any one of claims 1-13 wherein the drive mechanism is configured as a motor, such as a stepper motor, or a dc motor, or a servo motor.
The sample mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the sample mixing device further comprises a sensor for detecting the rotation state of the sample container holder, such as a correlation photoelectric sensor, a reflection photoelectric sensor, a hall sensor, a capacitance sensor, preferably a correlation photoelectric sensor.
The sample mixing device according to claim 15, wherein the sample mixing device is provided with a sensing portion and a notch in a sensing area of the sensor, and the sensing portion and the notch alternately enter the sensing area of the sensor when the sample mixing base is driven to rotate by the driving mechanism, so as to generate an output pulse signal of the sensor for detecting a rotation state of the sample container base.
A sample blending system comprising a sample container for containing a sample and a sample blending device for blending the sample in the sample container, wherein the sample blending device is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 16.
The sample blending system of claim 17, wherein the sample container is configured as a micro-blood collection tube for receiving peripheral blood; and/or the sample container is configured as a closed-lid container or an open-lid container.
A sample analysis system, comprising:

sample tempering device, in particular according to any of claims 1 to 16, configured for tempering a sample in a sample container and comprising a sample container holder for accommodating the sample container and a drive mechanism for driving the sample container holder in rotation about its axis of rotation, wherein the sample container holder is configured such that a centre axis of the sample container forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation of the sample container holder when the sample container is accommodated in the sample container holder;

a control device configured to be in communication with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism to drive the sample container holder to rotate about its axis of rotation.
The sample analysis system of claim 19, wherein the control device is configured to control the drive mechanism in a manner that:

causing the drive mechanism to drive the sample holder to rotate about its axis of rotation in the same direction, preferably causing the drive mechanism to drive the sample holder to periodically rotate about its axis of rotation in the same direction; or

The driving mechanism is enabled to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately, preferably, after the driving mechanism is enabled to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the first direction for a preset time period, the driving mechanism is stopped, and after the sample flows back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container, the driving mechanism is started to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the second direction opposite to the first direction.
The sample analysis system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the sample mixing device further comprises a sensor for detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder, the sensor is communicatively connectable to the control device so as to transmit the detected rotation state of the sample container holder to the control device, and the control device is capable of adjusting a driving parameter of the driving mechanism according to the rotation state of the sample container holder or determining whether the sample container holder or the driving mechanism is malfunctioning according to the rotation state of the sample container holder.
The sample analysis system of any of claims 19-21, wherein the sample analysis system further comprises:

a first transport device configured to be communicatively connected with the control device and for placing the sample container into the sample container holder under control of the control device;

a second transport device configured to be communicatively connected to the control device and to remove the sample container from the sample container holder under the control of the control device.
The sample analysis system of claim 22, wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are configured as the same device or different devices.
A method for sample blending, the method comprising:

fixedly placing a sample container into a rotatable sample container seat, so that an acute included angle is formed between a central axis of the sample container and a rotation axis of the sample container seat, and preferably, an intersection point of projection lines of the central axis of the sample container and the rotation axis of the sample container seat in a vertical plane is located above the bottom of a cavity of the sample container for accommodating a sample;

and the driving mechanism drives the sample container seat to rotate around the rotating axis of the sample container seat so as to uniformly mix the samples.
The method of claim 24, wherein the sample container is fixedly placed in the rotatable sample container holder such that an acute angle formed by a central axis of the sample container and an axis of rotation of the sample container holder is less than or equal to about 45 °, preferably in a range of about 2 ° to about 15 °.
The method of claim 24 or 25, wherein the step of driving the sample holder to rotate about its axis of rotation by a drive mechanism to perform the sample mixing operation comprises:

driving the sample holder to rotate in the same direction about its axis of rotation by a drive mechanism, preferably driving the sample holder to rotate periodically in the same direction about its axis of rotation by a drive mechanism; or

The sample container holder is driven by the driving mechanism to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately, preferably, after the sample container holder is driven by the driving mechanism to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the first direction for a preset time period, the driving mechanism is stopped, and after the sample flows back to the bottom of the cavity of the sample container, the driving mechanism is started to drive the sample container holder to rotate around the rotation axis of the sample container holder along the second direction opposite to the first direction.
A sample blending method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein said method further comprises:

detecting a rotation state of the sample container holder by a sensor;

adjusting a driving parameter, such as a rotational speed, of the driving mechanism according to the rotational state; and/or

And judging whether the sample container seat or the driving mechanism has a fault according to the rotation state.
A control device for a sample analysis system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the sample analysis system to perform the steps of the method of any one of claims 24 to 27.
A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a sample analysis system, cause the sample analysis system to perform the steps of the method of any one of claims 24-27.